Referrals for specific safeguarding issues
Keeping children safe in education
Safeguarding issues
26. All staff should have an awareness of safeguarding issues that can put children at risk of harm. Behaviours linked to issues such as drug taking, alcohol abuse, deliberately missing education and sexting (also known as youth produced sexual imagery) put children in danger.
Hertfordshire Children Safeguarding Partnership
Child sexual exploitation
Please see Section 6.6 of the HSCP Procedures Manual
Hertfordshire Police CSE reporting form
Refer using this form should a non-urgent response be required or to submit information about Child Sexual Exploitation. HALO will acknowledge receipt of the referral via e-mail.
This form should be used to refer children and young persons and/or suspects and perpetrators. This form should also be used in cases where no victim is known but a person is exhibiting CSE perpetrator behaviours.
A separate referral must be completed for each child who is vulnerable to, or a victim of, Child Sexual Exploitation.
If there is no immediate risk to life or property but a police response is required as soon as practicable due to the seriousness of the incident and/or potential loss of evidence, dial 101.
If there is an immediate danger to life, risk of injury or crime being committed please dial 999.
A referral to Children’s Services: Safeguarding and Specialist Services may also be necessary if it is considered that the child is in need of protection.
Domestic abuse and violence
Please see Section 5.1.9 of the HSCP Procedures Manual
- Schools can refer direct to MARAC. Follow the MARAC education toolkit
- Consider whether a referral to Police/Children’s Services is also required.
Anti-radicalisation PREVENT
Section 5.3.9 HSCP Procedures Manual
- Where risks of vulnerability to being drawn into terrorism are suspected or confirmed, practitioners should make a referral to the PREVENT team at prevent@herts.pnn.police.uk, using the referral form available in section 5.3.9
- If there is an immediate risk, ring the police (999/101).
- A referral to Children’s Services: Safeguarding and Specialist Services may also be necessary if it is considered that the child is in need of protection
For information on Prevent in Education please visit:
Emotional wellbeing
HSCP Procedures Manual-Self Harm and Suicidal Behaviour Section: 5.5.2
Single Point Access (SPA) 24/7 Mental Health Helpline: 0800 6444 101.
If a referral requires a quick response please call and state this is urgent.
Referrals are considered urgent if:
- Child/Young person is has suicidal thoughts and plans with the intent to act on them
- Concerns that a child/young person has acute psychosis
- Concerns that a child/young person has a severe eating disorder, especially if there is rapid weight loss or very low weight.
Referrals can be made directly by parent/carer or via schools/GP.
If a child/young person is at immediate risk and needs physical health intervention, they need to be taken to Accident and Emergency, or dial 999.
A referral to Children’s Services: Safeguarding and Specialist Services may also be necessary if it is considered that the child is in need of protection
Single Point of Access (SPA) Mental Health Helpline team can be called at any hour of the day or night, 365 days a year. The team can provide support for Hertfordshire residents who are experiencing a mental health crisis, need some mental health support or just want to talk on: Freephone 0800 6444 101 or NHS 111 and select option 2 for mental health services
Hertfordhsire Partnership University: Referrals